Hatoyama resigns for being unable to hold his election promise ... how about Hun Xen and his many unfulfilled promises to donor countries?

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has been under pressure after backtracking on a promise to move an unpopular U.S. Marine base from Okinawa Island.

Japan's prime minister announces resignation

June 2, 2010

(CNN) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced Wednesday he will resign after eight months in power.

"I'm going to step down," Hatoyama declared in a live broadcast on Japanese television NHK, while addressing party members of both the upper and lower houses of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

"I have had many shortcomings, I have been allowed to lead all of you for the past eight months to today. I am extremely grateful for having been given this opportunity," he said.

Eight months ago, Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan won a sweeping victory, an outcome hailed by many as a revolution in Japanese politics.

With promises of a cleaner government, Hatoyama worked to shift the political dynamics in Japan by taking away power from the bureaucrats and granting more power to politicians and local governments.

In his first speech as Japan's 92nd prime minister, Hatoyama made promises that he would conduct a clean and transparent government, launching a task force to monitor government spending.

But soon afterwards, allegations of illegal campaign financing tarnished his administration's image. Some of his cabinet members were investigated for corruption.

His approval rating took further hits over his failed promise to move a major U.S. Marine base off Okinawa to ease the burden of the island, which hosts the majority of the United States military presence in Japan. Earlier this month, calling his decision "heartbreaking," he announced that the base would remain on Okinawa, although relocated to a different part of the island.

Hatoyama's critics claimed he gave in to U.S. pressure, and his government coalition broke up.

Hatoyama said that while he did lose public trust, he hopes future generations will remember his legacy.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have often been dubbed as an alien and how I understand this is that I see not current Japan but always try to see future Japan," he said.

"Local government, local communities should be the main actors," said Hatoyama.

"In five or ten years people of Japan will understand what I am talking about."

Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in July.

The DPJ will now elect a new leader of the party -- most likely on Friday -- who will be in line to be the next prime minister of Japan.

Some time early next week, Hatoyama will dissolve his cabinet in the morning and the new party leader will stand for election as new prime minister by both upper and lower houses of parliament.

Voters Worry a Promise Is Just a Promise

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 July 2008

Click here to listen to the Khmer audio program

[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the first in a two-part series examining Cambodia's voters.]

For nearly a month, potential voters have been listening to the messages of political parties campaigning for 123 National Assembly seats. Their votes will be cast on Sunday, but many voters worry that by Monday, promises made will fade away.

In the course of the campaign, 11 parties made sweeping promises before voters, vowing to fight corruption, eliminate land-grabbing, curb inflation, reform the judiciary and protect the natural environment.

And while many of the countries 8 million voters likely heard these messages, they might not have been as convinced as parties hoped.

"I like all party platforms for the purpose of pushing Cambodian society to the rule of law, development and prosperity," Hav Cheng Sim, a 22-year-old civil engineering student said recently. "But I have little belief in those political promises."

Political observers say attitudes like these should be a reminder to political parties to remember promises they've made on the campaign trail.

"The voter's concern is a very important thing to remind the politicians and candidates, who made promises before the people, that they must respect their promises after winning the election," Ly Sothearayuth, a senior program officer for the National Democratic Institute, said.

Long Saroeun, 26, sitting with her infant on her lap outside a small wooden house in Phnom Penh, said recently she was skeptical of all political parties.

"The political promise is just a political trick and strategy by all parties to lobby voters," she said. "Politicians always break their promises, after winning.”

Views in the city and the countryside were similar among some voters.

"My family makes a very poor living, but no politician or party has come to help get my family and me out of poverty, so I do not believe in the promises by politicians or parties," Meach Phalla, a 45-year-old woman living in Kampong Cham town, said. "But I believe in myself to make a small business for supporting my family."

Fishing Communities Eying Parties

Vietnamese floating village on the Tonle Sap

By Ros Sothea, VOA Khmer
Original report from Kampong Chhnang Province
01 June 2008

[Editor's note: In the weeks leading into national polls, VOA Khmer will explore a wide number of election issues. The "Election Issues 2008" series will air stories on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a related "Hello VOA" guest on Thursday. This is the second in a two-part series examining the fate of the Tonle Sap.]

Cambodia’s fishing villagers are looking for political parties to serve their lifelong fishing careers.

As the national election approaches, fishermen of Chhok Trou district, Kampong Chhnang province, said they were facing declining conditions, and are looking for change.

“For this general election, I will vote for any political party who provides me certain promises,” said Ky Try, a 31-year-old fisherman, his voice rising. “If [a candidate] wins the election and still ignores the fishing problem, I can vote to drop him from power anytime.”

According to local authorities, 90 percent of eligible villagers in Chhnok Trou have registered to vote. During the election campaign, which will begin in the middle of June, political parties usually make many promises to attract votes.

But many fishermen in Chhnok Trou said they don’t care much about promises; they will keep looking for actions instead.

“I will vote for the party that can fulfill the demands of fishermen, and I will keep looking even after the election,” said 60-year-old Sath Kosal.

In response to villagers’ concerns, the representative of for biggest political party in Chhnok Trou, Long Sokhom of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, claimed to have prepared various strategies to combat illegal fishing in an effort to help the fishermen.

Human Rights Party representative Saing Sarath said he would seek to prevent Vietnamese fishermen from infringing on Tonle Sap fishing.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which has been in power for more than three decades, claimed it would do its best to strengthen measures to help fishermen.

Funcinpec representative Chhem Seng Hak said his party had no policy on fishing.